BACKGROUND: The first "modern" steel helmets were introduced by the French army in early 1915 and were shortly followed by the British army later that year. With plans on the drawing board, experimental helmets in the field, ("Gaede" helmet), and some captured French and British helmets the German army began tests for their own steel helmet at the Kummersdorf Proving Grounds in November, and in the field in December 1915. An acceptable pattern was developed and approved and production began at Eisen-und Hüttenwerke, AG Thale/Harz, in the spring of 1916. These first modern M16 helmets evolved into the M18 helmets by the end of WWI. The M16 and M18 helmets remained in usage through-out the Weimar Reichswehr era and on into the early years of the Third Reich until the development of the smaller, lighter M35 style helmet in June 1935. In an effort to reduced construction time and labor costs minor modifications were introduced in March 1940 resulting in the M40 helmet. Further construction modifications were undertaken in August 1942 resulting in the M42 helmet. The Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), the SS-VT, SS-Verfügungstruppe, (SS-Special Purpose Troops), the SS-TV, SS-Totenkopfverbände, (SS-Death’s Head Units) and eventually the Waffen-SS, (Armed-SS), were also allocated quantities of the assorted models of helmets through-out the war. Originally SS personnel didn’t utilized any helmet insignia until the first pattern runic SS helmet decals with silver runes on a black field were introduced on February 23^RD 1934, but were only worn for a short time by SS-VT personnel. On August 12^TH 1935 the black runic SS helmet decal on a silver shield shaped base and the NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), party shield decal were both introduced for wear by all SS personnel. Regulations of March 21^ST 1940 dictated that the NSDAP party shield decal was to be removed from all helmets and further regulations of November 1^ST 1943 abolished the SS runic decal and dictated that it was also to be removed from all helmets although the directives were not completely adhered to. Of Note: The SS runic decal underwent a minor modification sometime early in the war with the runes being somewhat less angular.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The stamped, sheet steel construction helmet retains about 65% of its age and usage darkened, slightly rough textured, field-grey over-paint with numerous spots of wear to the underlying smooth field-grey paint and the base metal with light to moderate surface spotting, primarily to the crown area. The right side of the helmet has an "SS" runic decal with black, angular runes on a silver shield shaped base with a narrow black bordered edging. The decal is retained about 75% with a few small scrapes and scuffs. The silver portion of the decal shows light age yellowing. The decal (CA Pocher type) runic decal was applied over an earlier decal with small portions of the original decal just being visible. The left side of the helmet has the NSDAP party shield decal with a black canted swastika on a white circular field with a red shield shaped base with narrow black outer border edging. The party shield decal is retained about 65% with numerous small scrapes and scuffs. All three liner retaining rivets are intact. The interior of the helmet has an age and usage darkened, M31 tan pig skin liner fully intact with all eight fingers and the original tie string. The liner shows light chafe wear to the bottom edge, moderate to heavy age and usage toning and the leather has stiffened with age. The liner has no visible size markings. The interior, reverse, neck guard apron has a faint, mostly illegible, stamped serial number, and the left side apron is stamped with the faint, manufacturer’s code and size that appears to be, "Q64" indicating manufacture by F.W. Quist, G.m.b.H. Esslingen, size 64. The helmet comes complete with a shortened, blackened leather chinstrap with a pronged, magnetic sheet metal buckle and natural steel and alloy retaining studs all intact. The chinstrap shows moderate to heavy chafe wear and age and usage toning. The chinstrap is still long enough to be flipped up over the forward visor. The chinstrap has no visible manufacturer’s markings.

GRADE ***                             PRICE $11,839.00